By Annie Lane
After spending a solid three hours wandering the streets of City Heights, I found that it’s possible to do so and still only see a fraction of what the charming, lived-in neighborhood has to offer.
Freeper and longtime City Heights resident Anna Daniels served as my guide, taking me on streets less traveled to see sights like the 47th Street Canyon, where a sign read, among other things, that no guns were allowed. We also visited the nearby Cambodian Buddhist Society of San Diego, its signature orange facade a stark contrast against the blue sky.
The El Rey Tattoo & Barber Shop also was a fun find along 43rd Street. Up and coming in City Heights, the establishment was recently relocated from Barrio Logan where it had quite a following. Owner Randy Jansen has decorated the interior with flash art, motorcycles, painted skateboards, old-style barber chairs and the like. It’s a thrill for the senses and a return to another era. For more about the shop and other neighborhood sites, take a look at Searching for City Heights by Anna Daniels.
All photos by Annie Lane.
Anna Daniels says
Annie- what a wonderful reminder of the joys of a dérive as friend and SDFP contributor Jim Miller calls it. From Wikipedia:
“In psychogeography, a dérive is an unplanned journey through a landscape, usually urban, on which the subtle aesthetic contours of the surrounding architecture and geography subconsciously direct the travellers, with the ultimate goal of encountering an entirely new and authentic experience.”
I have lived here for over 25 years. Over the course of our long walk, I had an entirely new City Heights experience. Thank you!
Annie Lane says
Anna, you were the best tour guide a person could ask for. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and look forward to our next outing!
judi says
Nice, Annie. Nice.
Annie Lane says
Thanks, Judi.
Dianne says
I hope everyone is remembering to see these photos full screen – they are such a delight!
Thanks, Anna, for information on the wonderful concept of derive.
bob dorn says
Really, these are very fat photos. Past, Present not Tense.
Annie Lane says
Ha! Thanks, Bob.
Jim Bliesner says
Nice collage. Next time maybe venture into those Chinese herb shops and the Vietnamese markets for a color and sensory explosion too!!!. Good eye!
Anna Daniels says
Jim- this was just Part 1. Stay tuned!
Frances O'Neill Zimmerman says
Wonderful photographs.
And good for residents of City Heights who use 47th Street Canyon — no guns allowed — unlike Starbuck’s which allows open-carry patrons in open-carry jurisdictions! (I am rethinking my morning lattes until there’s a change in corporate policy.)
Annie says
Peet’s Coffee came out with a firm anti-gun policy. I’m on the fence about Starbucks only because of its pro gay marriage stance. Its open carry gun policy makes me very uneasy.
Cynthia says
Annie, I always carry a gun with me when going to Starbucks, just to make sure the mochas are done properly. Doesn’t everyone?
Annie says
Great suggestions, Jim – thanks!
Cynthia says
Annie, the last time I saw those carrots was right before they were removed for the I-15 remodel on the exit and entry ramps. Never thought I’d see those carrots again…where are they?